"Don't be afraid. Come closer. Look — it's your first beast."
"What do you want to call it?"
The scene shifts. Everything is in flames. His mother seeing the overwhelming odds looks at her son one last time.
"Run. run. RUN."
Kai jerked upright— and toppled straight off the narrow bench
He hit the asphalt hard.
Pain burst through his shoulders. He sucked in a sharp breath.
"Dammit." He muttered as hunger clawed at his gut.
"Hey, wake up you parasite. Go, get me something to eat."
The small dragon growled, frustration crackling through their thin bond.
"Huh?" Kai said, a sneer curling his lips. "Irritation, is it? You think you're too good for me? Too bad. You're the beast. I'm the tamer. You obey."
Then he started laughing hysterically as the dragon flew in search of food.
"Tsk. The bond is going to break any day now, he won't stick around after that. I need to make sure he stays with me."
As the dragon flies through the town he remembers the old times when Kai treated him kindly the warmth of his hands, the smile on his face and also the days that led to his decline.
He wonders how long has it been since Kai called him by his name. The name although an idiotic name contained his love.
Puffy.
Now all Kai is filled with is his anger, resentment and entitiled behaviour.
I could have ended this bond anytime I wanted, he thought. It would have been simple. One choice, one moment — and Kai would be nothing to me. But I didn't. I kept hoping… hoping he would realize. Hoping he would see his arrogance. Hoping he would grow. I still hope. But hope is heavy, and I am tired of it.
As Puffy flies through the night sky he spots a couple having dinner. Too slow. He rolled his eyes— not that anyone could see— he flies away.
"Hey— let go of me! Someone help!" the cry echoed through the empty alleyways, sharp enough to make the dragon's ears twitch.
That sound! Where did it come from? Maybe if I focus more!
Puffy shut his eyes, stopped flapping his wings and let the night wind guide him as his ears and whiskers worked in tandem to pinpoint the source.
"Oh, sweetheart... scream louder," the man sneered. "Maybe someone will hear you."
The woman's back hit a wall, cold steel hovered inches from her chest.
"No— please... I have money. I'll give it to you." The woman managed, her voice shaking.
A long and ominous shadow fell over the alley as something decended from above, the woman's knees gave out as she collapsed againest the wall.
Puffy struck. Moonlight stretched his sillhouette as he bit off a chunk of flesh from the man's shoulder. Landed beside the unconscious woman. Shot a small flame near the man's feet.
A bone chilling scream echoed through the town. The man fell over clutching his wounded shoulder and backing away, terror replacing arrogance.
Doors creaked open. Windows shifted.
The towns people finally wary of noise outside, started gathering to find a bloodied man with tattered clothes lying against a wall— and a woman lying inside of the alley, unconscious.
"What's taking that idiot so long? I'm hungry. He better bring a feast, or he's dead." Kai muttered through clenched jaw.
"He is convenient but why does he always have to take his time."
"It's been thirty minutes already. Where are you, you damn mutt?" He threw his head back and shouted at the sky.
He paced the length of the street. Chewing at his nails as his patience thinned.
At last, he spotted the mutt.
Or atleast sensed him— he still couldn't see him.
***
[Axiom event: Human death registered]
Vestige detected: Divine mutt.
Type: Passive.
Compatibility:
— Host: Absolute.
— Puffy: Null.
Extraction: Complete.
***
"WHAT?"
"What the fuck is he doing?" His voice cracked.
"I told him to bring me food— not kill someone. That mutt... If people find out he is my beast, they'll hunt me down."
"He just keeps causing me trouble." Kai's veins throbbed.
"And what's up with this skill." Kai focused on his axiom.
[Host: Kai]
Occupation: Beast tamer.
Tamed beasts (1/3)
— ??? Dragon (hatchling)
[Grow your bond to get more information.]
Bond strength: 5%
Vestiges: Divine mutt.
Vestige description: [ You radiate an aura of disgust.]
Sigils: —
"An aura of disgust?" He let out a dry laugh.
"I don't need a Vestige for people to feel disgusted."
"I'm disgusting enough as it is."
[Observation: Self-awareness confirmed.]
"Shut up!"
Puffy returned to Kai with a purse in his claws. He dropped it in front of Kai.
"What are you doing?" Kai hissed.
"Not only did you kill a person, you stole their purse and you didn't bring any food."
"What if someone comes looking for it?" Kai panicked.
He opened the purse, inside it was money, some makeup and a pendant.
"Useless!"
"I have to get rid of the purse"
"Hey! use ember" Kai shouted at Puffy.
Kai burned the purse to ashes and took the money for himself.
I can't just go in the shops with this much money they will definitely suspect me of stealing. I guess I will have to hit up different shops everytime so that no one gets suspicious.
"Hey! You did a terrific job— now go to sleep" Kai said with a sarcastic tone.
Two figures watched from the shadows as Kai went to sleep.
"Boss," the girl whispered, tilting her head. "You really want him? He can't even control his own beast."
The old man's cane tapped once against the pavement.
"Look who's talking."
She clicked her tongue.
"We watch," he continued calmly. "He's already close to breaking. When he does…"
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"We'll be there."